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OldSchooling on the "Lone Star Trail"

Things are slow at work, so I ask my bud Papple if he would transfer my GS down South. His itinerary was Florida to Texas.

Texas is where I want to be, as Henzilla's Hill Country ride report had me jealous and yearning of warm winter riding. I had a 100 degree temperature swing (minus 15 to mid 80's) in just a few short days.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regency Bridge

The Regency Suspension Bridge spans 340 feet from tower to tower. Both cables are pulled tight for another 134 feet behind each tower where they are anchored into the ground. The towers rise approximately 30 feet above the bridge floor. Maximum sag in the cable was not to exceed 7 feet above the floor of the bridge. The bridge stands 25 feet above the recorded high water level of the Colorado River at Regency. The flooring for the bridge was constructed with 4 by 12 inch lengths of lumber

White Wolf Trading Post adjacent to the historic Regency wooden suspension bridge and Alton Watson will be happy to sing a song for you and visit awhile. Fourteen miles north west of San Saba Texas, right off FM500 is a special place simply known as, ‘«£Regency.‘«ō It is the place where the multi-talented Alton can be found every day of the year tending his wolves and writing fantastic original music. Having performed with Stephen Bruton, Arlo Guthrie, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, and Hank Williams Jr. a person would think Alton would lack interest in the simple joy that an original song can bring to the average visitor at his trading post‘«™that notion couldn‘«÷t be further from the truth.

Alton Watson original musical composition, ‘«£Swinging Bridge‘«ō, that was featured prominently in the 2000 independent major motion picture, ‘«£World Without Waves‘«ō, intones‘«™‘«£Hidden in the heart of Texas there‘«÷s a swinging bridge waiting on you.‘«ō

This song writer/singer was very good. I enjoyed my visit with Alton, but I needed to get some riding in.

Click on the link below, and open a new window and listen to his songs while you view the photos:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A True Texas Gem

Alton told me the first bridge was built in 1903, serving farmers and market. The bridge fell in 1924 as a young boy was driving his cattle, killing the boy and his cattle.

The next bridge was demolished by a 1936 flood. The Regency Suspension Bridge was erected in 1939 built with most of the work done by local hand labor and this bridge was 25 feet higher than the highest recorded flood.

Alton, and many other Texans told me that it has been a year since the last measurable rainfall. Alton, like many other Texans have a water collection system.

I asked Alton, How this recession was effecting him. His response is that it was not any big deal, as he has a garden, and lives as much off the land as the original river folks have done for generations,

Regency is true Texas gem, and in my feelings ranks up there with Luckenbach. The Bridge does not have that much life left in it, so if you are in the Goldthwaite/San Saba try to give it a visit, you will be glad you did.

"Organized 1856 in area so wild that church gave missionary a $50 revolver, $125 horse. On this site, first frame church, 1882. Present building, 1914-1919. San Saba marble. Said to be the only all-marble Methodist church in U.S."